Packing for rods and plungers.



No. 633,624. Patented Sept. 26, I899.

G. T. STAPLES.

PACKING FOR RODS AND PLUNGERS.

(Application fil'ed Apr. 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2W2 I A I F d2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. STAPLES, OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. I

PACKING FOR RODS AND PLUNGERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,624, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed April 15, 1899.

forits object the provision of adjustable pack ings which shall prevent leakage as far as isconsistent with easy running of the plunger. I am aware that adjustable packing-rings have been employed for this purpose; but my invention is a departure from the packingring construction and has sundry features of advantage over the previously available forms of adjustable packing. In the first place I construct my plunger, or so much of.

it as plays through the packing-box, in prismatic form, so that instead of the usual curved cylindrical surface it presents a series of plane surfaces, their edges uniting in lines parallel to the axis of the plunger. Within the packingtbox there is a broken ring of packing, which is made up of a series of packing-plates, a plate for each face of the prismatic plunger. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a square prismatic plunger or section of one with packingplates surrounding it. Fig 2 is a side View of a packingbox with one-half broken away to show the packing-plates. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 with the end cover of the packing-box removed and part of theend flange broken away. Fig. 4 shows in perspectivetwo packing-plates designed to fit each other. Fig. 5 is a section of the packing-plate of Fig. 4 at line 1 1. Fig. 6 is a modification of the invention adapted to large-sized machinery.

0, Figs. 2 and 3, is a packing-box made in two sections joined, by flanges F and having end flanges F and corresponding cover-plates F The body of the box is polyhedral, corresponding with the. prismatic shape of the plunger within. In the case shown the box and plunger are square in cross-section. On each side of the box, integral therewith, if so preferred, is a boss 0', which serves as a socket for a set-screw. The cover-plate F is con- Serial No. 718,197. (No modclfi/ trally perforated with a square hole,which ad-,

mils the plunger A without friction, and this cover-plate may have its place supplied by the end of the pump-cylinder, to which the flange F may be bolted directly.

Within the box C and surrounding the plunger A the packing-plates 1) p are arranged, and set-screws S, passing through the bosses c in the sides of the box 0, bear upon the backs of the packing-plates and exert an adjustable pressure upon the plates, holding them in proper contact with the plungerA. A simple form of packing-plate is shown in Fig. 4. The plate p is provided at its sides with squared recesses n, which are so proportioned as to admit the projections n in plate 19. In

the disposition of the plates about the plunger I plates 1) p are opposite each other and mesh with plates 11" p which complete the ring. By making these packing-plates with a little play at the joints which hold them in place on the plunger enough .come and go is provided to permit adjustment of the plates to the plunger by means of the set-screws. The plates themselves may be of any material which suits the special purpose or situation,

the nature of the liquid to be pumped, &c.;

but, as a rule, some soft metal, like babbitt, affords a good working and packing surface. When a soft metal is to be used,a reinforcement of more refractory material is desirable, especially so if the plunger be large and the packing surface correspondingly ample. Figs. 4 and 5 indicate my device for utilizing a soft and semiplastic material for the packing-plate. A shallow box I), of cast-iron or pressed steel, is made of suitable shape and dimensions, as shown, and the soft metal cast in the shallow box, as at m, Fig. 5. If desired, the sides ofthe box 17 may be built up with removable strips or with clay, so that When'cooled the soft-metal surface stands above the level of the edges of box I). Whenever the wear on the surfaces in contactwith the plunger exceeds the play between the plates which is left for adjustment, the plates can be removed from the box and the meeting edges thereof filed down a little, so as to restore the slight looseness at the meeting edges of the plates.

It will be observed that the packing-plates wear always without undue local pressure,

which would result from any adjustability which involved a change in shape of the packing. The pressure between the packing-plate and the plunger need not be heavy, for the depth of the packing from end to end is much larger than in the case of the ordinary ring.

This packing is not calculated Wholly to prevent leakage, but it will minimize it to a greater degree than ordinary packing and without increasing the frictional load disproportionately.

If the plunger is large and requires a large packing-plate, the pressure of the set-screw may be distributed evenly over the plate by means of an intervening spreader-plate, as shown in Fig. 6. The spreader-plate D is a square plate provided with bearing-points d d at or'near its corners and a dished cavity d in the center to receive the adj Listing-screw S. By this means the pressure exerted by the screw S is evenly distributed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a prismatic plunger, of a plurality of flat packing-plates, a plate engaging each surface of the plunger, the said plates fitting together at the-corners of the plunger in such manner as to permit contraction of the girdle of plates on the plunger Without diminishing the packing-surfaces of the plates.

2. The combination with a prismatic plunger, of a plurality of flat packing plates loosely interlocked at their meeting edges and engaging the surfaces of the plunger.

3. The combination with a prismatic plunger, of a plurality of flat packing plates loosely dovetailed at their meeting edges and embracing and engaging the surfaces of the plunger, each surface of the plunger being provided with a separate plate.

Signed by me at Dedham, Massachusetts this 13th day of April, 1899.

GEORGE T. STAPLES.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY D. HUMPHREY, HOWARD COLBURN. 

